Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009

Floor Speech

LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2009

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Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (H.R. 11), which is the first of two bills the House will consider today focused on ensuring fair and equal pay for women in our workforce.

By now, most of us have heard the heartrending story of Lily Ledbetter. Despite being intentionally paid 20 percent less than her male colleagues for 19 year, Ms. Ledbetter was denied damages by Supreme Court. In its May 27, 2007, the Court, by a narrow majority, ruled that because Ms. Ledbetter failed to file a claim within 180 days of the initial discriminatory action, she had missed her opportunity to challenge her employer.

Thankfully, we have the opportunity today to overturn the Supreme Court's egregious decision by approving the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This legislation clarifies that each discriminatory paycheck represents a new act of discrimination and therefore restarts the 180 day statute of limitation. By restoring the law to as it was prior to the Supreme Court's ruling, we will ensure that women, such as Lily Ledbetter, who are unknowingly discriminated against for years retain the legal right to challenge their employer and obtain compensation for the discrimination that they have endured.

Madam Speaker, the legislation before us today does nothing more than restore common sense to the laws that protect our nation's women from discrimination. I urge all of my colleagues to fully support it.

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